Charts Guide: Looker Studio (A-Z) Charts Explained

Looker Studio (Formerly known as Data Studio) Charts explained with an example and use case scenario

Looker Studio (Formerly known as Data Studio) Chart Guide

Scorecard in Looker Studio

1. Scorecard

Scorecards display a summary of a single metric and are the most commonly used way to visualize core key performance indicators (KPIs).

Pie/Doughnut chart in Looker Studio

2. Pie/Doughnut chart

A Pie/Doughnut chart expresses a part-to-whole relationship in a data set. It will always add up to 100%. So, if, for instance, you want to show "How does 100% divide up into multiple shares?" you should always use a Pie/Doughnut Chart with % as a data label.

Bullet Chart in Looker Studio

3. Bullet chart

Bullet charts display a single metric performance and progress towards a certain goal or against a benchmark. You can optionally display a target value, and set it up to 3 ranges.

Gauge Charts in Looker Studio

4. Gauge chart

Gauge charts display a single metric performance and progress towards a certain goal or against a benchmark.

Line Charts/Time Series Charts in Data Studio

Time Series Charts in Looker Studio

5. Line chart/Time series chart

Line charts are best for tracking changes over short or long overtime. Compare how several things change over time relative to each other. When minor changes exist, line graphs are better than bar graphs. So If you hear that key phrase "over time," that’s your clue to consider using line charts for your data.

Column Charts in Looker Studio

6. Column chart

A Column chart shows comparisons among discrete categories. One axis of the chart shows the specific categories being compared, and the other axis represents a measured value. The bars can be plotted vertically or horizontally.

Combo Charts in Looker Studio

7. Combo charts

Combo charts use both axes to show a comparison between different KPIs. They work in a similar way to Column charts except with the option to configure how to display individual metrics (Line and Pub/Bar). The right axis is often used If a data set is significantly smaller than the rest of the KPIs.

Table in Looker Studio

8. Table

Tables represent quantitative information where precise values can be required in some cases. However, this is not exclusive in this information age. My personal favorite method of using tables treats them as a raw data exported into Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets for detailed analysis.

Pivot Tables in Looker Studio

9. Pivot Table

A Pivot Table stores the summary of a specific data set in a condensed manner or groups data together in a meaningful way. My personal favorite is to treat Pivot Tables as raw data export tables into Excel and Google Sheets for detailed analysis.

Area Charts in Looker Studio

10. Area chart

An Area Chart is best used to show the distribution of categories as parts of a whole changing over an interval. As the area inside the chart is plotted to convey whole numbers, an Area Chart does not work for negative values.

Scatter Charts in Looker Studio

11. Scatter chart

A scatter chart will show the relationship between two different variables represented by the X and Y axes.

Bubble Chart in Looker Studio

12. Bubble chart

Bubble Chart = Scatter Chart + Bubble Size

A Bubble chart shows the relationship between two different variables represented by the X and Y axes, with Bubble Size (optional) representing the optional metric.

Geo Maps Charts in Looker Studio

13. Geo map chart

Geo charts are an easy way to visualize data in maps to compare how a measurement varies across a geographic area. The dimensions are related to continents, countries, regions/states and cities, with your desired metrics as a data point.

Treemap in Looker Studio

14. Treemaps

Treemaps show parts of a whole and display hierarchical information.

Line chart/Time series chart